I didn't watch the Oscars much less see this live but it was impossible to ignore the next morning as it was, quite literally, everywhere. Front page of every news site I visit and the virtual front page of the only social media site I check, Twitter.
So I saw a couple of clips and then looked for the unedited feed to maybe get more context and found one that was like the full 90s or so from the joke until Chris Rock 'recovered' and went into his documentary award or whatever it was.
At first watch, in real time, I thought it had to be a bit. Smith is clearly laughing at the joke as the camera cuts to him after. Even when he walks up to Rock, Rock is sort of standing there weird, like he's waiting for something. The slap was a surprise but I still thought it had to be a bit. When Smith is walking back he looks like he is smirking or something to me, maybe he's just looking to.Jada for approval though. Anyway when he starts yelling at him from the seat then I thought "Was that real?"
I don't know if it was 100% unscripted and authentic. I am blown away though that he could have done something like that and not get kicked out of the event. More than anything that is what makes me still consider it might have been at least partially scripted. Celebrity and wealth privilege aside, the Oscars don't have security empowered to do something like that? What would have happened if two people got into a physical altercation in the audience over some real or imagined slight? Nothing? There is not one person in charge who could have made the call to eject him? We live in an era where taking a swing at someone on a football field will get you sent to the locker room and this dude can slap someone on live TV and just go sit down? And then to discover minutes later he wins his award, gets let on stage and crys and shows no remorse or accountability and gets a fucking standing ovation? That's fucking crazy to me even for Hollywood dipshits.
As for whether or not Rock knew about her condition...who gives a fuck. He's a comedian doing his job and they are public figures and 100% fair game. You go to these things and you can expect to be roasted if you are famous and have some roastable shit out there. No bald jokes allowed now? No fat jokes allowed either I guess? FWIW, I didn't know about her condition but I knew about their open marriage. Would he have gotten slapped for talking about that? It looked like in the immediate aftermath he wanted to bring that up, I wish he would have.
Finally comparing this to any political conspiracy is laughable. The conspiracy here would be two actors were acting?